N.F.L. ROUNDUP; Dolphins Name Pennington Their Starter

By CHARLIE NOBLES

Published: August 26, 2008

Over the past two weeks, Chad Pennington convinced many of his new Miami Dolphins teammates that he was the club's best quarterback option. On Monday, Dolphins Coach Tony Sparano made it official.

Pennington, released by the Jets on Aug. 6, the day they acquired Brett Favre, will make his regular-season debut with the Dolphins against his former team, when Miami and the Jets meet Sept. 7 at Dolphin Stadium.

Pennington, 32, who started 66 games for the Jets in eight seasons, including five playoff games, quickly made a positive impression with the Dolphins. He immersed himself in the offense and began giving his teammates daily feedback on how to fine-tune their skills.

''From the day he got here, just the demeanor and the way guys are motivated, has changed a lot,'' said Derek Hagen, a starting wide receiver. ''He brought the leadership that we've been missing at the quarterback position. Believe me, he tells you if you can do something better.''

When Pennington addressed the news media after Monday's practice, he apparently did not know he would be named the starter. But Sparano told him shortly after, before Sparano held a news conference.

Sparano said he had been most impressed with Pennington's ''management skills,'' made more valuable because the Dolphins, 1-15 last season, are young.

''He can manage a game real well,'' Sparano said. ''He's a little bit calmer in there. And he's seen more situations.''

Pennington, who beat out Chad Henne, Josh McCown and John Beck for the job, said in a statement, ''I'm excited about the opportunity to lead this team.''

Earlier, he talked about the importance of the Dolphins' last two preseason victories as a possible bridge toward rebuilding a winning attitude.

''Winning is a habit,'' he said. ''You have to practice the winning. You can't say, 'We'll pick it up in the regular season.' Good teams don't have a split, where they turn it on and turn it off. They're on all the time.''

FAVRE WANTS TO PLAY Brett Favre wants to play in the Jets' preseason finale Thursday at Philadelphia, and he said he would speak to Coach Eric Mangini about getting in for a series or two.

''I don't know what's going to happen,'' Favre said. ''I would assume that he'll probably say no, and if that's the case, so be it.''

Most coaches rest their starters in the fourth preseason game, using it to evaluate rookie free agents and others competing for a spot on the 53-man roster. Favre is a special case because he missed the preseason opener Aug. 7 at Cleveland after coming out of retirement and being acquired from Green Bay late the previous night. (AP)

BRADY SAYS HE WILL BE READY New England quarterback Tom Brady, who has an injured right foot, told WEEI radio in Boston that even if he sat out the final preseason game Thursday against the Giants, he would be ready for the opener against Kansas City on Sept. 7. (AP)

AROUND THE LEAGUEHouston Texans receiver Harry Williams underwent successful surgery on his spine, but will probably never play football again, the team doctor said. ... Payton Manning may be activated by the Indianapolis Colts on Tuesday. (AP)

Chad Pennington's debut for Miami will come against the Jets. ALAN DIAZ/ASSOCIATED PRESS